Bass Wheel With Carbon Fibre Shaft ?

Don Higdon · #1 11-03-2010, 12:46 PM

My walnut bass has a 1/2 inch diameter carbon fiber endpin. The clamping mechanism won't work on a steel shaft, such as I have on my Gaines wheel.
Does anyone make a wheel with a carbon fibre shaft?

Andrew McGregor · #2 11-03-2010, 02:03 PM

You could get some carbon tube, get the shaft of the wheel turned down or replaced with a smaller size, and epoxy it on. Potential source: http://www.allerc.com/product_info.p...oducts_id=5642

vejesse · #3 11-03-2010, 02:58 PM

How about a 1/2" shaft for the Gaines wheel?

Don Higdon · #4 11-03-2010, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vejesse

How about a 1/2" shaft for the Gaines wheel?

Gaines makes adapters; that's not the point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Higdon

The clamping mechanism won't work on a steel shaft, such as I have on my Gaines wheel.

Don Higdon · #5 11-03-2010, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew McGregor

You could get some carbon tube, get the shaft of the wheel turned down or replaced with a smaller size, and epoxy it on.

I use the Gaines wheel as is for my other basses.

vejesse · #6 11-03-2010, 06:50 PM

The point? Just trying to be helpful buddy. I haven't seen any commercially made wheels that incorporate a 1/2" carbon tube. But I have fitted a 1/2" steel tube to a Gaines wheel so someone could use it with the Ulsa type endpin that pushes a pad into the tube.

You might have to get creative.

Don Higdon · #7 11-03-2010, 07:36 PM

I don't know what to say. My end pin is not an Ulsa type. The mechanism is entirely different (no set screw), and I'm not going to change it. I already have put a 1/2 inch steel adapter on the Gaines stem. It can't be held.
If I'm not getting what you're describing, please bear with me and spell it out.

**Matthew Tucker** · #8 11-03-2010, 08:18 PM

Gollihur sells a custom made shaft for collet-style endpins

http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product...fm?prodID=1222

not sure if that will help you?

tornadobass · #9 11-04-2010, 04:20 AM

My bass has a New Harmony CF end pin. I got the corresponding size of shaft for my Lemur wheel and it works just fine. The NH plug has a very nice tightening system, so that may be a key to success.

I recently got an old Epi bass with another brand of CF end pin and noticed that the clamping system isn't nearly as good...with that one a wheel would probably slip, although I haven't tried it.

Don Higdon · #10 11-04-2010, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tornadobass

My bass has a New Harmony CF end pin. I got the corresponding size of shaft for my Lemur wheel and it works just fine. The NH plug has a very nice tightening system, so that may be a key to success.

I recently got an old Epi bass with another brand of CF end pin and noticed that the clamping system isn't nearly as good...with that one a wheel would probably slip, although I haven't tried it.

My end pin also is New Harmony. I swear by it. Big difference in sound output.
I went thru the whole routine again tonight, filing flat spots for the set screws to engage the adaptor shaft and marking the shaft to assure that the shaft is moving, rather than the yoke moving within the adaptor shaft. No luck. The shaft turns.
I have a Bass Buggy for this bass. It's fine, but a bit weighty when carrying the bass up a set of stairs. That's why I'd like to use the Gaines. I found the Onyx wheel from Lemur too hard to shield the bass from road shock.

basswraith · #11 11-04-2010, 10:06 PM

Don...
We met twice at Arnold's shop. I asked Andrew Bice from New Harmony to make an adaptor for the .5" shaft size for the wheels. Contact him. He has been making them for situations like yours.
Michael Hartery

Don F · #12 12-11-2010, 12:13 PM

In my experience, the Gaines bass wheel can only be used with a carbon fiber endpin holder if the endpin tightening mechanism is modified. Changing the shaft material to carbon fiber will not likely work any differently than the steel shaft. If in doubt, contact the wheel fabricator at gaines@mhtc.net

Don Higdon · #13 12-11-2010, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don F

In my experience, the Gaines bass wheel can only be used with a carbon fiber endpin holder if the endpin tightening mechanism is modified. Changing the shaft material to carbon fiber will not likely work any differently than the steel shaft. If in doubt, contact the wheel fabricator at gaines@mhtc.net

The question is now moot, but for discussion's sake, I cannot accept the statement that if the wheel shaft were the same fiber rod as I am using for my endpin, the tightening mechanism would have to be modified.
I am not going to bother contacting Gaines, because Andrew Bice, maker of my end pin, gave me a ridiculously simple solution: To turn the Gaines steel shaft so that the flat spot on the shaft is on the opposite side of the tightening set screw. Problem solved.